High Twist Yarn

On Thursday evening,Dehil’s Claridges hotel hosted a fashionably arty show by Alka Raghuvanshi,who is holding a solo show after a gap of three years. As usual,Raghuvanshi attempted to be different; this time,by getting nine sort-of prolific women to walk on a makeshift ramp,wearing saris painted by her. Leading the brigade was character actor Sushma Seth,pretty in blue while crafts crusader Jaya Jaitly walked very slowly,letting everyone soak in the colours of her flashy pallu . However,the German Ambassador’s wife Ulla Matussek appeared to be having the best time. “No,this is not the first time I am wearing a sari,” smiled Matussek. After the show,the guests,cartoonist Sudhir Tailang,gallerists Renu Modi and socialite Shivani Wasir Pasrich walked around the lawns to see the 22-odd paintings on display,largely in acrylics. Though the works appeared repetitive,the artist defended them stoically. “The works are far more intense and there is an element of spirituality,” asserted Raghuvanshi. While the saris are pegged at Rs 12,000,the paintings are available at Rs 18,000.

( The exhibition is on at Gallery Ragini,till December 30. Contact 29522077 )